Cameron Menzies (Photo PDC)
Cameron Menzies and Mike De Decker both recorded outstanding ton-plus averages in their respective round two matches in Bratislava, booking their places in the final day of the Slovak Darts Open.
Menzies produced one of the best averages of the weekend so far, as the Scotsman raced past Gerwyn Price, beating the Welshman 6-2 with an average of 106.
The Scot rattled off three legs at the back-end of the match in 11, 12 and 10 darts to dispatch Price and set up a contest with European Tour debutant Tom Sykes on Sunday.
“That was a free hit,” explained Menzies, who now sits inside the World Matchplay qualification spots.
“I was so nervous, but what helped is that my first dart was finding the treble most of the time.
“I needed that. I’m gutted I didn’t get a dart for the nine-darter, I’ll hit it one day, I know I will.
“All I want to do is win. I love Bratislava, and I hope I will be back here.”
Sykes also produced a brilliant display to continue his dream European Tour debut, as he beat Martin Schindler in a gruelling last-leg decider.
“I’m happy to get over the line. He hit the maximum at the start of the last leg and I just knew I had to follow it,” admitted Sykes.
“I never give up, I never will, I’ll always be there or thereabouts, so we’ll carry onto tomorrow and see what happens.”
Elsewhere, Mike De Decker returned to winning ways with an emphatic victory against William O’Connor, as the Belgian averaged over 107 in his 6-2 victory over the Irishman.
De Decker’s victory sets up a clash with Ryan Joyce in round three, as the Geordie star beat Welsh number one Jonny Clayton in yet another last-leg decider.
Dutch duo Danny Noppert and Jermaine Wattimena will lock horns in Sunday’s afternoon session, following comfortable wins over Madars Razma and Dave Chisnall respectively.
Nathan Aspinall will take on English compatriot Ryan Searle in round three, as the pair secured victories against Jim Long and Kim Huybrechts in their opening ties of the weekend.
Niels Zonneveld nearly produced the comeback of the tournament so far, as the Dutchman battled back from 5-2 down to force the decider against Stephen Bunting, but it was Bunting who booked his place in Sunday’s action.
Bunting will take ProTour leader Wessel Nijman in round three, as the in-form Dutchman swept aside Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6-2.
Ross Smith and Chris Dobey close out our round three action, and the pair will go head-to-head following successes against Joe Cullen and Tyler Thorpe respectively.
RESULTS
Round Two
Mike De Decker 6-2 William O’Connor
Kevin Doets 6-2 Damon Heta
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Benjamin Pratnemer
Danny Noppert 6-2 Madars Razma
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Chris Dobey 6-4 Tyler Thorpe
Ryan Searle 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Luke Woodhouse
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Jim Long
Tom Sykes 6-5 Martin Schindler
Cameron Menzies 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross 6-3 Gian van Veen
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Ryan Joyce 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Niels Zonneveld
Ross Smith 6-5 Joe Cullen
